International North West 200 to appoint Operations Manager

IN line with recommendations following a recent Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure funded organisational review analysis carried out by mxbrandcom, the International North West 200 is set to recruit a new full time operations manager who will be responsible for day to day activities including risk management, health and safety, road closing orders, course infrastructure, the senior management team and volunteers who help run the event year on year. It is anticipated that the new manager wil

Current Race Director Mervyn Whyte MBE will take on a new role as Technical Director and will act as advisor and mentor to the newly appointed Operations Manager as well as continuing to liaise with sponsors and media and manage teams and competitors.

Synonymous with the North West 200 Mervyn Whyte has been at its helm for over 10 years and now believes it is time to hand over the operational reins and responsibilities for the event whilst still being on hand to assist and guide the new manager.

Explained Mervyn Whyte, “During the past decade in my position as Clerk of Course and latterly as Race Director the workload has increased hugely and often means working long hours particularly during the build up period to the NW200. As Race Director, day to day operational activities take up 90% of my time therefore being able to delegate this portfolio of work will make a huge difference and allow me to apply my skills and experience to other areas of the North West 200 as well as bring our new staff member up to speed.”

It is anticipated that next year’s International North West 200 will be held on Saturday 21 May 2011.

The International North West 200 has received many awards in the past few years including Event of the Year at the NITB Awards in 2008, the Freedom of Coleraine in 2003, a CIPR Pride Award for public relations in 2004 and a NI Travel & Tourism Award in 2005. Mervyn Whyte won the ‘Paddy Patterson’ trophy at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Award in 2006, in 2007 Mervyn was awarded an MBE for services to motorsport and in 2009 SPARKS NI presented Mervyn with a Sporting Partners in Action, Services to Motorsport award.